Awka

Awka Capital Territory Ọka Anambra State Capital City
Municipality
Awka
From top to left to right: Unizik Gate, State House, Works Road, Awka Aerial view, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Access Road.
Nickname:  Awka City
Motto:  Sires of Smiths
Awka Capital Territory Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 6°12′25″N 7°04′04″E / 6.20694°N 7.06778°E / 6.20694; 7.06778
Country	Nigeria
State	Anambra State
LGA	Awka North, Awka South
Awka District LGA	Awka City Awka, Amawbia, Adazi-Nnukwu, Agulu and Abagana OthersLGA Anaocha, Awka North Awka South, Dunukofia, Idemili North, Idemili South and Njikoka.
Awka Capital Territory	Territory Core Areas Awka, Amawbia, and Umuokpu Linkage Adazi-Nnukwu, Agulu, ABBA, Abagana, Nri Kingdom, Amansea, Enugwu-Ukwu, Enugwu-Agidi, Isiagu, Isu-Aniocha, Mgbakwu, Nawfia, Nawgu, Nibo, Nimo, Nise, Okpuno and Umuawulu.
Settled	9th Century
Incorporated City	19th Century
Declared Capital	21 August 1991
Founded by	Nri Hegemony
Government
• Type	State, Traditional, City Planner
• Body	Constitutional Monarchy, Executive Chairman
• Governor	Chukwuma Soludo
• Constitutional Monarchy and Traditional	Ézè Ụzụ, Igwe Gibson Nwosu
• Executive Chairman	Hon. Mbonu Uzoma Awka North Mr. Leo Nwuba Awka South
• Anambra Central Senatorial District Awka	C: Victor Umeh (LP)
• City Planner/ Management	Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA)
Area
• Municipality	202 sq mi (522 km2)
• Water	5 sq mi (12 km2)
• Urban	419 sq mi (1,084 km2)
• Metro	550 sq mi (1,425 km2)
Population  (2022)[1]
• Municipality	430,200
• Density	2,100/sq mi (820/km2)
• Urban	2,171,900
• Urban density	5,200/sq mi (2,000/km2)
• Metro	5,000,000 (estimated)
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
National language	Igbo
Website	https://awkatimes.com

Awka (Igbo: Ọka)^[2] is the capital city of Anambra State, Nigeria. The city was declared capital on 21 August 1991, after the creation of Anambra and Enugu state, which moved the capital from Enugu to Awka (an administrative center since pre-colonial times). The city has an estimated population of 301,657 as of the 2006 Nigerian census. The both LGAs of Awka South and North had a estimated population of 430,200 in 2022.^[3] The city is located at 199.1 kilometres (123.7 mi), by road, directly north of Port Harcourt in the centre of the densely-populated Igbo heartland in South-East Nigeria.^[4]

The West-East Federal highway links Lagos, Benin City, Asaba, Onitsha, and Enugu to Awka and several local roads link it to other important towns such as Oko, Ekwulobia, Agulu, Enugwu-Ukwu, Abagana and Nnewi.

Strategically, Awka is located midway between two major cities in Northern Igboland, Onitsha and Enugu, which has played a significant role in its choice as an administrative center for the colonial authorities and today as a base for the Anambra State government.